Direction indicator for motor vehicles



July 27, 1926. I I 1,593,574

L. P. DWYER DIRECTION INDICATOR FOR MOTOR VEHICLES Filed June 27- 924 attoznu Patented .july 27, 1926.

UNITED STATES 1,593,514 PATENT OFFICE.

LEONARD r. DWYER, or CHICAGO, rumors.

DIREGTION INDICATOR FOR MOTOR VEHICLES.

Application filed June 27,

This invention relates to improvements in direction indicators for motor vehicles and to indicate the direction of turning to the driver of the following vehicle.

A further object is to provide a signaling device of this character, which may also be manually actuated to indicate the direction of turning, before the vehicle actually begins to turn. 7

Another object of the invention is to furnish an indicator of this type, with front lamps which will throw beams of light to the right or left, forward of the vehicle, depending on the direction in which the vehicle is to be turned, these forward lamps being controlled by separate switches, so that the rear lamps may be actuated independently of the front lamps.

A still further object is to provide an improved switch for controlling signal lamps.

With the foregoing objects outlined and with other objects in view, which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention consists in the novel features hereinafter described in detail, illustrated in the accompanying drawing and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

Referring to the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a diagram of the electric wiring system employed in my signaling device.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the upper end of the steering post and a portion of the steering wheel, with my improvements applied thereto. 7

Fig. 3 is an end view of the switch.

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view of a portion of said switch.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken'on line 8-8 of Fig. 4.

In the drawings, 1 designatesa motor vehicle having front signaling lamps 2 mounted on the cowl. These lamps are best shown in Figs. 1 2 and 9 and they consist of lamp casings 3 having reflectors arranged to project their beams at angles of about 90 de-.

rees relatively to each other. These casrugs are mounted on a common support 4- 1924. Serial 1T0. 722,705.

and contain electric lamp bulbs 5 and 6. These bulbs are to be separately controlled, so that the lamp which directs its beam to the right may be actuated whenthe car is to be turned to the right, and the lamp directing its beam to the left, may be actuated when it is intended to turn the vehicle to the left.

Mounted on the rear of the vehicle is a signal lamp casing 7 having an H-shaped partition 8 dividing the interior of the casing into four compartments 9, 10, 11 and 12. Each of these compartments has a window 13, 14, 15 and 16 through which the rays from electric light bulbs may penetrate. The windows 15 and 16 are arrow shaped, one directed toward the left and the other toward the right. The windows 16 will be covered with red glass and the window 15 with green glass, so that when a turn is to be made to the left, a red light will be displayed, and when a turn is made to the right, a green light will be displayed. The compartment '9 may contain an ordinary parking light, while the compartment 10 contains a stop light. Y

The lamps or bulbs 'used with the rear casing are designated 17, 18, 19 and 20 and theyare all carried by the baseplate 21 of the casing. y

The combination switch for controlling the signal lamps, is best shown in Figs. 5 to 8 inclusive, and it consists of an insulated. collar 22 surrounding the steering post 23, and fixed to the latter by a threaded stud 24 and a screw 25. This collar carries metallic conductor plates 26 and 27 connected by wires 28 to the switches 29 as indicated diagram matically in Fig. 4. When the switches 29 are in the positions shown in Fig. 4, current may travel through either of the front bulbs 5 and 6 and thence through either of the rear lamps 17 or 18 back to the battery 30.

- When the, switches 29 are in the dotted line have provided the steering wheel with v '26, the current will travel from the battery 30, through the lamps 18 2%: to plate 26 and to spring arm 82, then through post 23 to ground. Vfhen the steerwheel is moved toward the right. the same action will take place through the lamps l? 5.

For the purpose of actuating the lamps independently of the steering; wheel, 1 have provided manual means consisting of a rock 32 provided with rock shaft is tur'nahly mounted. in the stud 2d and is provided with a square portion 34.- and a threaded portion A yolre 36 is arranged on the square portion of the rock shalt and its oppositely directed arms 3'? and 38 are adapted to alternately engage the conductor plates 2% and 27. A spring 39 is held. on the rock shatt loy a nut 40 and presses against the plate 36. The front face of the stud 24, has three cavities r1, as shown in Fig. 8 adapted to he engaged by a lug l2 on the handle 88, so as to hold the handle temporarily the position to which it has been moved.

If it is desired to give a signal without actuating the steering wheel or before the steering Wheel has been turned, the operator moves the handle 33 in the desired direction, and for the purpose of this disclosure, we will assume that he has moved the same to bring the arm 37 into engagement with the plate 26. At this time the current will travel from the battery 30, through lamps 18 and 6, wire 28, plate 26, arm 37, rock shaft 32, stud 24 to ground.

As the operator may sometime forget to release the manually controlled switch, I have so arranged the arm 32 that it will 6, up the wire a handle 33. This automatically disconnect either arm 3*? or 38 from its respective contact plate or 27. For this purpose the arm 32 projects hetween the yoke 36 and the collar 22, shown in Fig. 6. It will theretore he seen that the arm 32 will raise either aum 8'? or 88 when the vehicle is turned and will thus automatically throw out the manual switch.

From the foregoing it is helieved that the construction, operation and advantages oi the invention may he readily understood, and it is apparent that changes may he made in the details disclosed without departing; from the spirit of the invention as expressed in the claims.

W hat I claim and desire to tiers-Patent is:

1. In an electric switch for motor vehicles embodying an insulated collar surrounding the steering post of a vehicle, conductor plates mounted on lation, a stud of conducting material project ing thru the collar and engaging the steering post, a rock shalt mounted in the stud and having a handle, spaced cavities in the stud a log on the handle engageahle with said cavities for holding the handle in adjusted positions, a. yoke movable with the rock shattand provided with oppositely extending arms engageahle with either one of said plates, a spring on the rock shaft engaging the yoke, and a nut on the rock shaft for compressing the spring and holding the lug in contact with either of said cavities.

2. In an electric switch for motor vehicles as claimed in claim 1, a contact arm mounted on the steering wheel and movable between the yoke and collar for raising the arms of the yoke from the conductor plates.

In testimony whereof I afix my signature.

LEONARD P. DWYER.

secure hy Letthe collar in spaced re- 

